NAPIER SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12731, 14 April 1904, Page 2

NAPIER SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Napier .School Committee held their monthly meeting in the Main School last night. Broscnt; Messrs C. JS. Edwards (Chairman), J. Constable, F. W. Garner. C. Sorrell, J. N. Anderson, J. B. Fielder, T. W. Bear, and J. B. Williamson. Leave of absence was granted to Mr W. J. McGrath.

The headmaster (Mr T. Morgan) reported as follows: —“Roll number 682, average attendance 618. The trainees are working satisfactorily. During the month the Inspector paid Ins annual inspection visit. Dr Locking, the public vaccinator, interviewed me during tile month in reference to the vaccination of the scholars. Having notified the parents of his intentions through the children, and by means of the press, I received so many objections from the parents that I wrote to Dr Locking, informing him that he must communicate with the committee and obtain their sanction to attend the school to perform his work. It is hardly necessary for mo to point out to the committee that wholesale vaccination will necessitate the closing of the school for at least a fortnight, as the attendance is certain to fail down to about one-half of its normal state. If the majority of the scholars have to be vaccinated, it should be done the week before the midwinter holidays. In conclusion, on behalf of the teachers and myself I have to thank the individual members of the committee fertile uniform courtesy they have shown ns during their periodical visits to the school. o —Adopted. Dr Locking wrote stating that since the advent of small-pox into the colony he had been requested by the Government to vaccinate and ro-vaccinate os many children and others as possible. With the committee’s permission he proposed to visit tho district schools and vaccinate all children whose parents and guardians raised no objection. Reply to be sent that the committee did not consider it to be within their powers to authorise public vaccination in the schools, tho onus, in their opinion, resting with the parents or guardians. It was decided to purchase an organ for the infant school. A circular was received relative to the battleship New Zealand presentation fund. Referred to the headmaster, the members of the committee ejich contributing Is to the fund. On the recommendation of the visiting committee (Messrs near and Sorrell) various small requirements were ordered to be attended to. Tho Chairman and Messrs Fielder and Williams wore, appointed a subcommittee to draft the report to he submitted to tho annual meeting o! householders on the 25th instant.

Plans of Uu; proposed excavation he hind the school were considered, and it was decided to recommend the incoming committee to carry out Ihe work. On the motion of Mi Garner, it was resolved, “That the Borough Council bo requested to allow their sanitary officer to inspect the sanitary arrangements of the- Napier district schools, and to report if the work lias been carried out in accordance with the bylaws.”

It was reported that a number of the school children were suffering from mumps, and the .secretary was inslmeted to ask the .District Health Ollirer if the complaint is an infections disease.

The secretary submitted a statement showing that dining the past year, the receipts had been £225 H’s lid and the expenditure £204 17s Id, the credit balance having been increased from £2 19s 6d at the beginning of the year to £23 14s 4d. Adopted. The Chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Williamson and Sorrell for their services during the past year, expressing regret that owing to the formation of a now district for the southern portion of the town they would not again be eligible for election to the committee. • The motion was carried unanimously. It being the last ordinary mooting of the committee votes of thanks were passod to the Chairman, the secretary (Mr G. H. Bickerstaff), and the press. Accounts amounting to £6 12s 6d were passed for payment.